Compatible OS for dual boot

[TranceJunkieXL]

Just for sh!ts and giggles last week I partitioned my 40GB and installed all 3 in a triple boot.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Win98SE then Win2000Pro and finally WinXP Pro. I do have Partition Magic, but that really isn't necessary if you know how to use fdisk.

[dwolfman]

I may be looking to upgrade my pc soon and I have Windows 98 and 2000 installation cds now, but a friend of mine is urging me to get XP. I've used XP a bit, but I really prefer the 2 OSs I currently have. If I do decide to get XP I'm toying with the idea of a dual boot system and want to know if it makes sense having a dual boot with 2000 and XP. I know 98 and XP works fine, but would there be any considerations for a 2000/XP dual boot set up?

[Iceman]

they will work fine together...i would suggest that you use partition magic and boot magic to set it all up..this makes the process nice and painless!!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

[dwolfman]

If neither is available I can't set up my partitions using a boot diskette? How about if I have 2 hard drives?

[Dude]

You can dual boot without partition magic. Just install oldest to newest. Example 98 then 2k or XP. Doesn't have to be separate hard drives, you can use separate partitions. Install 98 first then 2k or XP. The nt OS will install a bootloader for you. You then get a menu at bootup to pick your poison. Keep in mind that 98 can't read an NTFS partition. 2k and XP can handle both FAT32 and NTFS. You can still use NTFS for the NT OS, it won't stop you from dual booting, but you won't be able to see the NT partition from win 98. Personally I like 2k better than XP, if you have an older PC it may be better to stick with 2K. IMHO it's not worth it to buy XP if you already have 2k pro.

[dwolfman]

My current system at home is running on 98 and 2K. I prefer 2K over XP myself, but if I get the new system I might get XP to install with it and since I prefer 2K I was looking at dual boot options for 2K and XP so I can keep the OS I prefer and have XP in case I start to like it better. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[Iceman]

i was just suggesting that you used those programs...you can do it manually but it takes a lot more time and effort <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"><BR>

[Avid6eek]

Question: Why do you prefer 2k over XP?

[Dude]

<br><br><< <i>i was just suggesting that you used those programs...you can do it manually but it takes a lot more time and effort <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"></i> >><br><br><BR>A lot more time, yes and no. If he already has two partitions it doesn't take much time at all. Only the time to install the second OS. If he only has one partition that's another kettle of fish. It would definitely be faster to us partition magic, and save the os he has installed now. I have done it both ways and like using a bootmanager myself. I could never get bootmagic to work. I used bootstar so I could hide the other OS partitions. I was triple booting Linux ,2k Pro and XP pro. Didn't matter what OS I booted into it always showed up as C: . Your suggestion was good, he just asked what if I don't have....... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[Dude]

<br><br><< <i>Question: Why do you prefer 2k over XP?</i> >><br><br><BR>Just personal preference in my case, plus my PC is an older model. XP runs buggy on my PC, slow also compared to 2k. My father had the same experience with XP, his PC is older than mine. XP may have great support for the latest hardware, but it sucks in support for older hardware. By the time I turn off all the telly tubby graphics, and stop the useless services it looks just like 2K. In my case it does because I use the XPicon raider in 2k. IMHO if you already have 2k pro it's not worth spending the money to buy XP. If you don't have either then may as well go with the latest and greatest.

[dwolfman]

My main issue with XP at this point is I have to "relearn" how to use Windows. Some tools have moved, been modified or removed altogether. Functionality wise I have no serious problems with it as it more or less has the same functions that 2K has (with a couple changes/improvements). So it comes down to preferring a more familiar OS. Maybe I'll like it more if I use it more, hence why I'd prefer a dual boot option than to just "upgrade" to XP alone.<BR><BR>Yes, dude, I was just asking the alternative because I don't have either partition or boot magic available at this time. In time it might be a "tool" I include in my collection, but for now I have to use more rudimentary tools.

[Dude]

<br><br><< <i>My main issue with XP at this point is I have to "relearn" how to use Windows. Some tools have moved, been modified or removed altogether. Functionality wise I have no serious problems with it as it more or less has the same functions that 2K has (with a couple changes/improvements). So it comes down to preferring a more familiar OS. Maybe I'll like it more if I use it more, hence why I'd prefer a dual boot option than to just "upgrade" to XP alone.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Yes, dude, I was just asking the alternative because I don't have either partition or boot magic available at this time. In time it might be a "tool" I include in my collection, but for now I have to use more rudimentary tools.</i> >><br><br><BR>I agree, I didn't like the new layout so I just kept clicking the "classic" check box's. lol If I had to pick one thing that really drives me to drink in XP it's that lame search setup. You have to jump though hoops to find a file on the PC. Plus it's near impossible to switch it back to the normal "classic" search method. I have XP running on my daughters PC, she likes it. I have to admit on her newer PC XP found all the hardware and loaded with out any problems. In this case I like that. Means my daughter will be able to install XP herself with only a little help from me, and only need the XP cd to get it going. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">